'Cannibal' murderer Matthew Williams lured victim Cerys Yemm to hotel

The 22-year-old died after she was attacked by Matthew Williams, who allegedly
ate parts of her face. He later died at the Sirhowy Arms hotel in South
Wales after police used a Taser to try to stop him

Cerys Yemm

By Edward Malnick and Claire Duffin

12:12PM GMT 07 Nov 2014

Cannibal killer Matthew Williams lured his 22 year-old victim back to his hotel room after meeting her in a bar before attacking her and eating her face and an eye, it has emerged.

Williams told the woman - named on Friday as Cerys Yemm, a sales assistant at Next - that he would call her a taxi home after meeting her on a night out. But once back at the B&B where he was staying, he launched an horrific attack.

They were trying to work out whether he drove her back to the Sirhowy Arms hotel in Argoed where he was found “eating her to death”.

A friend of the pair said: “They met that night in a bar and got chatting for the first time.

“They had been drinking and he persuaded her back to the hotel and said he’d get her a taxi home.

“Once he got her back in the hotel he must have invited her up to his room and that’s where he attacked her.”

Miss Yemm's mother Paula, 49, was being comforted at her detached home in Oakdale near Blackwood, South Wales. A police family liaison officer was at her home.

Williams was described as "an infamous character" in his home town of Blackwood with a reputation for violence. He had been released from prison recently after serving half of a five-year sentence for attacking a former girlfriend.

The pair were seen drinking together shortly before the attack and Williams was described as “seeming sober”.

He is thought to have taken cocaine before attacking Miss Yemm. He ate her eyeball and chewed half of her face in the horrific attack, it is understood.

Police were called to the hotel and they used a Taser on him, he died shortly afterwards after becoming "unresponsive". The Independent Police Complaints Commission is now investigating.

"We are in complete shock. Our thoughts and prayers at this time are with the victim her family and friends. Words cannot express our grief."

The Sirhowy Arms was a pub until it was turned into a B&B and bail hostel catering for up to 26 guests.

The redbrick hotel has nine rooms, five doubles, three singles and a family room and is used by the local council to give temporary accommodation to people in the area.

Shelly Davies, a friend of Miss Yemm, said: “I just keep thinking of how frightening and painful it would have been for her

“I feel sick to my stomach, it’s horrific to think that one person can inflict some much brutality onto another.

“I had bad dreams all night and I feel exhausted.”

Another friend Kathy Young said: “My thoughts are with her family.

“No one should have to go through this, this is horror movie stuff. Not happening in your home town.”

Miss Yemm was a pupil at Oakdale Comprehensive School before studying Health and Social Care at Crosskeys College.

One man, who lives in the former mining village of Oakdale, said: “Everyone here knew Cerys – we watched her growing up.

“She was a lovely girl, smart, attractive and brought up by a very good family who she was extremely close to.They’re nice people – they must be going through hell.”

Cerys Yemm posted this picture of herself on a social media website

A neighbour said: “I can’t bring myself to think about what happened to her, she was so nice, she would always say hello.”

In October last year, Miss Yemm had seen her former boyfriend Mathew Hayman jailed after breaking up with him in October last year. Hayman, then 27, tried to kill himself after they split by setting his house on fire.

He lit up his bathroom before turning on the gas cook – and it was “pure chance” his house in Abertillery did not explode.

Hayman admitted arson when he appeared at Newport Crown Court and was jailed for three and a half years.